UPDATE: Lejeune fire forces three schools, stretch of US 17 to close

ONSLOW COUNTY, NC (WWAY) -- A fire at Camp Lejeune has force the Onslow County School District to close two schools. Dixon High School and Dixon Middle School closed at 11 a.m. because of problems with smoke. The district later decided to close Dixon Elementary School at 2 p.m.

Also, a statement from Camp Lejeune says US 17 is closed between High Hill Road to the north and NC 172 to the south.

The smoke from the fire in the Greater Sandy Run Area has caused limited visibility and inherent damage, the Marine base's statement said. Motorists are advised to comply with traffic advisories and exercise extreme caution when driving in the area.

(Photos courtesy: William Brown)

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It actually was started by a control burn that got out of control. Todd Stokes wasnt paying attention and left AO unattended. Simple mistake but costly. And the smoke really wasnt that bad, just the local kids here act as life-sized v*****a's. But as a self-acclaimed pyro, it's always nice to see a good burn gone better

School should have never opened this morning. A little snow on the ground....they close school. A fire burning and potential threat to life from flames and smoke....... The fire aside, any embecile could see that air quality was compromised to the point even non asthmatic individuals would be at risk. The smoke was thick and dark. It did not take rocket science to see, SCHOOL SHOULD NOT HAVE OPENED THIS MORNING! It is easier to send out an automated message to let parents know school will not be opening than it is to close school, evacuate, try to get kids home safely in a timely manner and try to contact parents that are now at work or God only knows where. I'd like to know who the knucklehead was that DID NOT MAKE THE CALL TO CANCEL SCHOOL TODAY. Probably the same back woods, toothless, Deliverance hick that started the fire.

Well first of all you shoud probably head back up north where you belong. You come down here and pollute our towns and beaches and then procede to bad mouth the local people. Those same toothless, backwood hicks you ignorantly put down built these towns and beaches. I do realize that the schools should have been closed but dont be so quick to blame people you obviously know nothing about. Next time you write an email you should use some tact and have some respect.

The fire was started by wind picking up a fire thought to be put out by military training personnel on the base that the fire is burning on.
They obviously didn't realize how bad it was until it was light enough to see all the smoke, or you know, they're idiots.
Still, no need to call out on Steve Myers (the man who makes those calls) he's not a back woods, toothless, deliverance hick, as most people around here aren't.
Way to get your facts straight.

If you have a student in school with asthma I would pick them up early - We feel all the schools in Sneads Ferry, NC should have been closed today March 24, 2011 for the safety issue of the air and fire dangers. This is a DRY period and EVERYONE should protect our land from fires --EVERYONE-- SHOULD NOT BE BURNING RIGHT NOW -- or anything that could cause a fire. We feel this was a accident however this accident SHOULD have been prevented. Right now we need to focus on our Safety. Breathing is a concern right now for everyone.